Mexico in 140 characters: how to use twitter while traveling
I: Before you leave, everyone will assume that your life will turn into the screenplay for the next Taken movie.
When you first bring up the idea of signing up for a travel writing class going to central Mexico, your dad will be hesitant at best. Even though your sister went to China last year, it will take a lot of work to convince your dad that you’ll be safe in a foreign country.
“Now Melissa, you know the Mexican and Chinese governments don’t work the same. The Mexican government is very corrupt and I don’t want you to end up in a Mexican prison.”
“Dad, what do you think that I would be doing that would land me in jail?!”
It will take a lot of effort, but you are a determined person. You don’t give up in the face of a challenge. After weeks of discussion, you finally achieve victory! You do your research and are able to tell your dad that central Mexico is actually very safe. San Miguel de Allende is full of retired Americans and Guanajuato is a college town. You get your parents’ permission to sign up for the class. Your excitement will lead you to tell all of your friends how you will be spending 10 days of interterm, but to your dismay, many of them have the same over protective concerns of your parents.
Your friend Cait will ride to the airport with you. Again, the subject of your safety will come up. Cait will spend the last 20 minutes of the ride telling you to avoid accepting rides, food, and drinks from strangers. You assure her that you’ll be okay.
II: Public embarrassment will happen one or two times. Or maybe five.
Because posting literally everything on twitter will get boring for your followers and could potentially result in being unfollowed by all of your friends, you have to be selective with what you tweet about. Public embarrassment situations are always safe choices. As you’re practically a pro at public embarrassment, this won’t be a problem for you. Some days, it will even be hard to narrow it down to the best embarrassing experience. Luckily, your traveling companions will readily give their opinion on the funniest embarrassing thing you did on a given day.
For example, your second day in San Miguel, you’ll be walking around and exploring the city with Amy and Marcy. While the occasional klutz in the United States, the streets of Mexico prove to be a bit more of a challenge to navigate. You’re learning how to get used to the lack of an even street structure: the blocks are irregular at best and the sidewalks are often narrow and uneven. At times, you have to walk sideways to squeeze through a space between the wall and a light pole. The ongoing near death experiences due to uncomfortable close traffic becomes normal. As you walk back to the hostel, you’ve tripped a few times but have regained your balance before wiping out. Your luck runs short before the walk ends, however, and the fateful moment approaches. You trip for the 34th time and fail to find your center of gravity. One minute you’re walking and the next, you’re tumbling into the street—fast and hard. You hear a loud smacking sound as your left knee connects with the pavement. Despite your fall, your mind is still working and you know you can’t just lie in the street. So you hop up about as fast as you fell and keep walking. Marcy seems concerned about your fall, but you laugh off the pain and insist that you are fine. Commence tweeting.
Because posting literally everything on twitter will get boring for your followers and could potentially result in being unfollowed by all of your friends, you have to be selective with what you tweet about. Public embarrassment situations are always safe choices. As you’re practically a pro at public embarrassment, this won’t be a problem for you. Some days, it will even be hard to narrow it down to the best embarrassing experience. Luckily, your traveling companions will readily give their opinion on the funniest embarrassing thing you did on a given day.
For example, your second day in San Miguel, you’ll be walking around and exploring the city with Amy and Marcy. While the occasional klutz in the United States, the streets of Mexico prove to be a bit more of a challenge to navigate. You’re learning how to get used to the lack of an even street structure: the blocks are irregular at best and the sidewalks are often narrow and uneven. At times, you have to walk sideways to squeeze through a space between the wall and a light pole. The ongoing near death experiences due to uncomfortable close traffic becomes normal. As you walk back to the hostel, you’ve tripped a few times but have regained your balance before wiping out. Your luck runs short before the walk ends, however, and the fateful moment approaches. You trip for the 34th time and fail to find your center of gravity. One minute you’re walking and the next, you’re tumbling into the street—fast and hard. You hear a loud smacking sound as your left knee connects with the pavement. Despite your fall, your mind is still working and you know you can’t just lie in the street. So you hop up about as fast as you fell and keep walking. Marcy seems concerned about your fall, but you laugh off the pain and insist that you are fine. Commence tweeting.
Since you deserve an award for the number of times you’ve done something ridiculous in public, you have an evening in Guanajuato to exhibit your skills. Nestled in a large valley an hour west of San Miguel de Allende, Guanajuato, full of narrow alleys and winding uphill streets, is a bustling college town of 153,000 people. A popular tourist attraction called callejoneadas led by the Estudiantina will give you your next tweeting opportunity. According to your guidebook, the Estudiantina are “Medieval-style troubadours dressed in capes and pantaloons.” What your guidebook doesn’t tell you is that most of these men will be fairly attractive, and you’ll laugh at their songs and jokes even though you don’t know what they are saying.
At one of the stops, you’ll get orange juice poured into a cup like device, called a porrón, with a small spout on one side. The goal is to pour the juice from the spout into your mouth, starting close and then moving the cup farther away from your reclined face. Naturally, you’ll have to try. The pouring starts off well and you continue to keep the aim as you move the cup farther away from your mouth. But you get a little cocky as your arm reaches full extension, and that’s when it all goes wrong. You tip the cup just a little too far and the orange juice comes out of the top and splashes all over your face, including your left eye. So much for looking cool. After all of your friends finish laughing at you, you get cleaned up and continue with the tour.
A few stops later, the singing tour guides pick ten women from the crowd to be in a “dance off.” Of course, you get picked and must follow a series of dance moves. You keep up fairly well in the beginning —in fact, you’re arguably even one of the best! As the dance continues, however, you begin to tire. One misstep later and you nearly send you and two other girls tumbling to the ground. This time, you are able to regain your balance, but not without notice. The crowd laughs, or at least you think they’re laughing. Despite the traumatizing trip, the Estudiantinas proclaim that everyone danced too well and you, along with others, are a winner. As your prize, you get to kiss all of the tall, dark and handsome men on the cheek. Lucky you!
At one of the stops, you’ll get orange juice poured into a cup like device, called a porrón, with a small spout on one side. The goal is to pour the juice from the spout into your mouth, starting close and then moving the cup farther away from your reclined face. Naturally, you’ll have to try. The pouring starts off well and you continue to keep the aim as you move the cup farther away from your mouth. But you get a little cocky as your arm reaches full extension, and that’s when it all goes wrong. You tip the cup just a little too far and the orange juice comes out of the top and splashes all over your face, including your left eye. So much for looking cool. After all of your friends finish laughing at you, you get cleaned up and continue with the tour.
A few stops later, the singing tour guides pick ten women from the crowd to be in a “dance off.” Of course, you get picked and must follow a series of dance moves. You keep up fairly well in the beginning —in fact, you’re arguably even one of the best! As the dance continues, however, you begin to tire. One misstep later and you nearly send you and two other girls tumbling to the ground. This time, you are able to regain your balance, but not without notice. The crowd laughs, or at least you think they’re laughing. Despite the traumatizing trip, the Estudiantinas proclaim that everyone danced too well and you, along with others, are a winner. As your prize, you get to kiss all of the tall, dark and handsome men on the cheek. Lucky you!
III: There is a chance you’ll get hit on. Sometimes you’ll be flattered. Sometimes you won’t.
Having pale skin, blonde hair, and blue eyes, you stand out a bit from everyone else in Mexico. As you walk through the streets, you get a lot more whistles then you do at home, and this will catch you off guard. As the days pass, you become better at controlling your reactions and can at least hold the laughter in until the whistler is out of earshot and sight. You also begin to notice attention from two distinct groups: young men your age and men old enough to be your grandfather. Of the older gentleman, one will stand out in your mind, a businessman from San Miguel. You are enjoying a late lunch with Marcy and Amy in the jardin, the epicenter of San Miguel where many restaurants and businesses are located. Completely unannounced, he will walk over and begin a conversation. In his late 50’s or early 60’s, his receding hairline, semi casual dress, and decent English speaking will lead Marcy to assume he’s a teacher.
“Do I look like a teacher to you? No! I am a businessman!” he says, looking slightly offended at Marcy’s assumption.
He asks where you’re from, if you’re in college, and what you’re studying. The conversation goes well. You’re glad that someone from Mexico actually initiated a conversation in English. He seems friendly enough, but as the conversation continues, things start to get a bit awkward.
“So ladies, what are your signs?”
“Umm…Pisces,” you’ll respond hesitantly.
“Oh Pisces! They are so brilliant but so humble! Where would the world be without them?”
You’ll just smile and nod while exchanging glances with Marcy and Amy. Every so often the businessman seems to bump into your arm, which you ignore at first, but soon move away from close reach.
“So where are you ladies staying?”
With abduction scenes from Taken flashing through your mind, you answer as generally as possible.
“Oh, in a hostel,” Marcy replies.
“Is it far from the jardin?” he asks as he proceeds to interrogate you.
“About a mile probably,” Amy answers.
After nervously dodging his questions with more intentionally vague answers, you narrowly escape his invitation to have dinner with him and a friend who is “even more fun than he is.” Eventually, the man says he must leave and bids you all farewell. Disaster averted.
Having pale skin, blonde hair, and blue eyes, you stand out a bit from everyone else in Mexico. As you walk through the streets, you get a lot more whistles then you do at home, and this will catch you off guard. As the days pass, you become better at controlling your reactions and can at least hold the laughter in until the whistler is out of earshot and sight. You also begin to notice attention from two distinct groups: young men your age and men old enough to be your grandfather. Of the older gentleman, one will stand out in your mind, a businessman from San Miguel. You are enjoying a late lunch with Marcy and Amy in the jardin, the epicenter of San Miguel where many restaurants and businesses are located. Completely unannounced, he will walk over and begin a conversation. In his late 50’s or early 60’s, his receding hairline, semi casual dress, and decent English speaking will lead Marcy to assume he’s a teacher.
“Do I look like a teacher to you? No! I am a businessman!” he says, looking slightly offended at Marcy’s assumption.
He asks where you’re from, if you’re in college, and what you’re studying. The conversation goes well. You’re glad that someone from Mexico actually initiated a conversation in English. He seems friendly enough, but as the conversation continues, things start to get a bit awkward.
“So ladies, what are your signs?”
“Umm…Pisces,” you’ll respond hesitantly.
“Oh Pisces! They are so brilliant but so humble! Where would the world be without them?”
You’ll just smile and nod while exchanging glances with Marcy and Amy. Every so often the businessman seems to bump into your arm, which you ignore at first, but soon move away from close reach.
“So where are you ladies staying?”
With abduction scenes from Taken flashing through your mind, you answer as generally as possible.
“Oh, in a hostel,” Marcy replies.
“Is it far from the jardin?” he asks as he proceeds to interrogate you.
“About a mile probably,” Amy answers.
After nervously dodging his questions with more intentionally vague answers, you narrowly escape his invitation to have dinner with him and a friend who is “even more fun than he is.” Eventually, the man says he must leave and bids you all farewell. Disaster averted.
Thankfully, you’ll also meet some Mexican college students close to your age, between the ages of 19 and 21. Just when you thought chivalry was dead, they will soon change your mind. Jorge, Rodrigo, and Martin will all be true gentlemen. As your main tour guide, Jorge is a walking encyclopedia filled with information about almost everything, from Mexican history to American 80s music lyrics. With side swept hair and a rugged scar on his chin, he claims that he is in the running for sexiest man alive along with Hugh Jackman. He’s studying language and fluent in English. His friend from childhood, Rodrigo, is also studying language and enjoys teaching you slang. With massively curly hair, Rodrigo loves to show off his inner Irishman through a traditional Leprechaun dance. Last, but certainly not least, is Martin, who is studying civil engineering. When you learn he is a lover of American football, and even able to tell you about the Nebraska Huskers, you realize you have just met your best friend in Mexico.
These friendly and courteous young men will give you free tours every day. They will insist on helping carry bags and help pay for food and taxis. In fact, one day you literally have to throw money at the cab driver as soon as the taxi stops so Martin doesn’t pay for the cab.
For a couple of days, you have been giving Jorge a hard time for not buying flowers for everyone during the callejoneada a few nights before. One day, as you walk out of class arm in arm with your travel classmate, Marcy, you run into Jorge, Martin, and Rodrigo on the street. Jorge holds out a fistful of carnations in different shades of white, red, and pink. Naturally, you pick the red one as it’s your favorite color. This is the moment you decide that you never want to leave Mexico.
These friendly and courteous young men will give you free tours every day. They will insist on helping carry bags and help pay for food and taxis. In fact, one day you literally have to throw money at the cab driver as soon as the taxi stops so Martin doesn’t pay for the cab.
For a couple of days, you have been giving Jorge a hard time for not buying flowers for everyone during the callejoneada a few nights before. One day, as you walk out of class arm in arm with your travel classmate, Marcy, you run into Jorge, Martin, and Rodrigo on the street. Jorge holds out a fistful of carnations in different shades of white, red, and pink. Naturally, you pick the red one as it’s your favorite color. This is the moment you decide that you never want to leave Mexico.
IV: Eventually, your time in Mexico will come to an end.
After 10 days full of exploring, eating and drinking, storytelling, and laughing, the time will come to bid your new friends farewell and return to Kansas. As much as you’ve missed your bed, you’re still not quite ready to leave. Parting will be difficult, but you know you’ll return someday. While purposely planning out tweets for each day, you’ve also realized what life is like without constant cellphone service. The importance of life isn’t contained in the 8 gigabyte of space on your iPhone. It’s found in meeting people and experiencing life. Because the strings were temporarily cut between you and the social media on your phone, you had no choice but to be an active participant in the world and experiences around you. In just 10 short days, you experienced a new culture, learned more of an unfamiliar language, and made relationships that will last a lifetime. So whether your adventures take place across the globe or in your own backyard, you now realize the importance of remaining present in the moment.
After 10 days full of exploring, eating and drinking, storytelling, and laughing, the time will come to bid your new friends farewell and return to Kansas. As much as you’ve missed your bed, you’re still not quite ready to leave. Parting will be difficult, but you know you’ll return someday. While purposely planning out tweets for each day, you’ve also realized what life is like without constant cellphone service. The importance of life isn’t contained in the 8 gigabyte of space on your iPhone. It’s found in meeting people and experiencing life. Because the strings were temporarily cut between you and the social media on your phone, you had no choice but to be an active participant in the world and experiences around you. In just 10 short days, you experienced a new culture, learned more of an unfamiliar language, and made relationships that will last a lifetime. So whether your adventures take place across the globe or in your own backyard, you now realize the importance of remaining present in the moment.
Watch Melissa read her story here